SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 6

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Our English Correspondent.] LONDON, February 20. THE TURF. The severe weather “is taxing the ability of the trainers bent on making a bid fqr some of fhe earlier events of the season. With gallops like a turnpike road, the difficulties of giving their charges hard work are very real, and the old dodge of sending a few of their stable to the seaside is finding favour. Wet sand oilers a chance, and some of the lonely stretches by the sea have presented an unusual appearance of late. Those trainers fortunate enough to be able to adopt this course are well placed, and we may see the result when the flat-race season opens. It is a matter lor satisfaction to the average trainer that it is very seldom frost and snow stops serious training for any length of time in England- If conditions were always such as we are now’ experiencing, it would become necessary to provide an indoor exercise track, such ns some of the big training establishments in the United Slates adopt. The coming race season is likely to be particularly rich in international events, American visiters will naturally be interested in Raigh Court, the crack intended for the Gold Cup at Ascot. The Jockey Club has just issued a license to B. S. Mitchell, who will train the colt at Newmarket, and the progress of Mrs J. D. Hertz’s candidate wili be closely watched. Mike Hall is another ca)ididatc_ from the United States, and it is said that the Gcsarewiteh and Cambridgeshire will ho the mission of this animal. Mention of _ these American racehorses is a reminder of the great double gained by Foxhall in 1881, his success in tho Cambridgeshire under a burden of 9.1 being a record. That was the year Iroquois won the Derby and St. Leger, American punters having a rare season as the result of those lour victories, SOCCER. Whilst Rugby fixtures were held up by the frost, it was deemed possible to go on with the fifth round of the F..-V. Cup. Tons of straw were used to protect the grounds, but oven with this tho surface was not really fitted lor such important fixtures. Aston Villa lias been a strong lancy from the start, and this famous Midland Club is certainly going strong. Called on to visit Reading, the Villa did splendidly to win by 3 goals to 0. and the next round will be tackled with confidence. West. Bromwich Albion, another Birmingham dub, also made no mistake when at home to Bradford, tho Yorkshire club being routed by 6 goals to 0, the biggest win of the round.

Another good performance was flint of Bolton Wanderers in visiting Leicester City, and prevailing by 2 goals to 1. Blackburn Rovers were at home to Bury, and the holders ot the trophy came through successfully by a goal to nil.

Huddersfield also proved Successful when receiving • Crystal _ Palace, the home side scoring live times to twice by the London club. ” Bosconibc, a third division club, did well to draw when at home to West Ham, a goal each. A like score was seen at Chelsea, where this popular London club received Portsmouth. Other southern clubs in Swinden and Arsenal played a draw on the former's ground, nothing being scored. Blackburn Rovers, the holders, have been fortunate to be drawn at homo for the next round, and. with Bolton as rivals, this Lancashire-tic will arouse great enthusiasm. West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield will be another great attraction, the former being at home. As Aston Villa will also bo at home, Birmingham sportsmen will .have a double attraction. Arsenal will minis!) the opposition, the Highbury dub having won the replay with Swindon, a goal to nil. Portsmouth bent Chelsea (a goal to nil), and will oppose Vest Ham in the next round, that club having prevailed against JJoscombe in the replay, J goals to 1. ATHLETICS. Women athletes arc certainly not dismayed by adverse, conditions. Of the 103 who competed in the cross-country championship over a 2J-inilo course at Rnislip on Saturday only four failed to fin is! i. Tho snow-covcrcd holds and plough made matters trying, yet the lad-ies certainly proved that they can keep going, even though the pace was not very fast. Miss L. D. Styles,. ot Littlcha'inpton, the holder, proved succussful. her dame being ITinin ItSscc. She was followed home by V. Hinton and ]). Wear both members of .London clubs. The Midland Business Houses Championship at Longridgc showed that J. E. Webster is in fine form, tho National champion winning easily, and covering the five-mile course in 2Smin 23see. Another iniporlant event was the Varsities’ Race at Leeds, which was again won by D. J. R. Richards, of the "Welsh University, his third victory since 1926. It was unfortunate that the professional marathon race at Hereford was decided under such trying conditions. The track was covered with ice and snow in places, and this made the going difficult. Arthur Newton and R., E. Colo kept together for over twenty miles; hut P. Gavuzza, of Southampton, Hie third competitor, found the cold too much for him, and ho retired before fifteen miles had been covered. He is the athlete who collapsed in the big California to New York Road Race nearly a. year ago, just when he appeared likely to win. Cole is a veteran who lias shown good form in the-'-dis-tance races at the Powdcrhall New Year’s gala at Edinburgh for several years. Ho ran the twenty miles last Saturday in 2h 4min, and soon after this stage drew away to win by over Jmiii from Newton. Cole finished the 26 miles 385yds in 2h 48min 45see, and, taking the conditions into consideration, tin's represents a good performance. Newton shows to better advantage over a longer distance, and it may be that he and Cole may he seen contesting a race of fifty miles, which would better servo the veteran from Rhodesia. BILLIARDS. Tho new amateur champion billiard player is a worthy holder of the title. Many good judges picked Horace Coles, of Cardiff, as the likely winner before the competition opened, and ho has justified tho confidence placed in him. Paying wMI from the start, gained a useful lead over S. Loo on the first day of the final heat, and never looked like losing it. The scores were 1,000 to 635 in his favour after two sessions, and he drew further away the second day—--2,000 to 1,266. Leo improved at the fifth session, but Coles had the best ot the play in the evening, and finally won bv 3,000 up to 2,215. The winner made breaks of 149, 136, 127, 125. 122, 114, and 107. His 136 was unfinished a very excellent performance at the end of a match. His average of 241 for the final ranks high for amateurs, particularly as there was considerable safety nlay. Lee, who is not yet nineteen years of age,

did well for such a yum." player. He hod live breaks over the hundred, ids best being 123, whilst his' average of 17i is highly creditable. In the earlier rounds Coles also made breaks of 220 and 205. the first being an unfinished effort. Ho lias been invited to go to South Africa, for the purpose of competing for the Empire amateur billiard championship, which A.’ Prior rather unexpectedly non a few seasons ago. Coles is willing to go, but this depends on his securing leave from the directors of the bank in which he works. Joe Davis, the professional champion, and Tom Newman are now having another of their keen struggles. Following a bad start, Davis soon got going, and when play ceased yesterday he held a lead of 68-1. BOXING. Ted Sandwins . again showed that he can punch hard when he opposed L. Marmouzet, of France, at Premierland during the week-end. A left jab to the jaw in- the second round ended matters, and there is' reason in the claims of Sandwins for another match with Phil Scott. Good judges say that D. Inkles, of Sheffield, is another Jimmy -Wilde in the making. He showed real good form when beating C. Vcrdicr, of Franco, at ihr. National Sporting Club this week, and ho may go far.